What is cognitive Behavioural therapy?
Cognitive behaviour therapy (also known as CBT) was a talk therapy founded by a psychiatrist, Aaron Beck, in 1960. CBT is widely used in the treatment of mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety disorders, OCD and addiction disorders. It is time-limited and usually requires you to see your psychiatrist every week or once in 10 days for about 8 to 12 sessions. You will be given homework to do, which will be reviewed in your next session.
What are the aspects of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy?
As the name suggests, Cognitive Behaviour therapy typically has two components: Cognitive and Behavioural. Cognitive is related to thoughts, and Behavioural is related to behaviours. The cognitive aspect targets faulty thinking patterns and obsessional thoughts. Behavioural targets are compulsive behaviours.
What is Exposure and Response prevention?
ERP, or Exposure and Response prevention, is a part of Cognitive Behaviour therapy and is a critical step-wise component of facing the various anxiety-provoking thoughts and compulsions little by little and overcoming the anxiety.For example, when one has a repeated compulsion to check locks on the door 25 times before leaving the house, an ERP programme is devised to reduce checking to 23 next week, then 20 the following week, and so forth. People are taught to hold on to the anxiety till it reduces by half. This eventually will help a person overcome their symptoms by a principle known as “Habituation”. ERP can be done for both obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours.
How can I overcome obsessive thoughts?
As mentioned earlier, in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, various strategies, including challenging faulty thinking patterns, Exposure and Response prevention, acceptance, mindfulness, defusion, etc., can help overcome obsessive thoughts. These must be followed diligently, and homework must be done to resolve the problem. You must also follow your psychiatrist’s advice on medications.
How can I overcome compulsive rituals?
By practising the techniques given as part of CBT sessions by your psychiatrist and taking your medications diligently, you can overcome compulsive rituals.
How do I know I have to see a psychiatrist for assessment?
Many people may have symptoms of OCD and do not seek help if it doesn’t affect their quality of life or interfere with their day-to-day functioning. You should consult your psychiatrist if your thoughts and symptoms are distressing and affecting your work, studies, mood or sleep. You should also be vigilant about your mental state and consult the psychiatrist if you are feeling very low and suicidal, along with distressing symptoms.
I think I may have OCD. What should I do?If you believe you have OCD and require a detailed assessment and treatment for this, you must consult a psychiatrist. Unfortunately, people resort to searching the internet for the evaluation and symptoms. This is often misleading and will be a source of anxiety. If you think you have OCD, you must consult a psychiatrist.
In the upcoming blogs, we will outline the complete Therapy for OCD, starting with CBT. This is also available as books from Chennai Minds, the Best Psychiatrist in Chennai for OCD Treatment in Chennai.
